Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

People come to TikTok to watch their favorite creators, discover fresh ideas and connect with their communities. We've built a full-funnel platform that enables brands to show up in those moments. At Advertising Week New York 2026, we're unveiling agentic solutions across every stage of the customer journey and expanding creative potential both on-and-off the platform.The opportunity is significant: PF Global's TikTok's Economic Impact Report published last week found that economic activity on TikTok helped generate $81 billion in GDP for US businesses [1], with 54 million Americans purchasing a product after watching a TikTok video [2]. When content is culturally relevant, audiences connect, explore, and take action – turning attention into scalable business growth, increasingly powered by AI. That momentum is reflected in the latest findings from Kantar's Media Reactions 2026 report, which ranked TikTok as the #1 platform where marketers plan to increase ad spend in 2027 [3], with 84% of marketers placing advertising on TikTok [4]."AI is transforming how advertiser content is created and scaled," says David Kaufman, Global Head of Monetization Product Partnerships at TikTok. "With our suite of solutions, we bringing together AI, automation, and creativity to help advertisers improve performance while reducing effort. We are enabling advertisers to create work that feels relevant, move at the speed of culture, and drive meaningful business impact."Turning Discovery into ActionTikTok is where discovery starts. It takes people from their first scroll to a spark of curiosity to an active search for a product or inspiration. Now more than ever, discovery drives action.TikTok is building new Agentic Commerce shopping experiences that support easy product discovery and frictionless transactions on the platform, starting with Buy Direct and Shopping Assistant. To help fuel these experiences, we are building with trusted commerce platforms and payment providers including Salesforce, Shopify, Shoplazza, Stripe, and more.Buy Direct is a seamless in-app checkout solution that allows users to make purchases directly from a brand, without leaving TikTok. The solution simplifies the purchase journey, allowing users to make purchases directly from the For You feed with just one click.Shopping Assistant is a conversational AI agent that guides users through their shopping journey. It understands context, remembers user needs, and finds the right products just for them, faster. Built into several TikTok touchpoints, Shopping Assistant provides realtime AI-powered shopping guidance like product details, shipping, sizing, availability and purchasing all within one conversation.We are also introducing Agentic Leads, an AI Agent for lead generation that, via AI-guided conversations, enables businesses to capture, qualify and convert high-intent, actionable consumer prospects. The solution will be available across multiple surfaces including Lead Agent in TikTok Direct Message and Lead Agent in lead form on advertiser-owned websites.Extending Campaign ReachTikTok gives brands new ways to connect with audiences through storytelling, creators and culture, driving performance beyond the core TikTok experience. We are excited to introduce TikTok Ad Network (TTAN) to US advertisers, enabling them to seamlessly extend their campaigns beyond TikTok and reach audiences across a premium network of nearly 400,000 apps worldwide. Fully integrated into TikTok Ads Manager, TTAN has built-in brand safety and placement controls to help brands safely extend campaigns, connect with the right audiences and drive measurable business outcomes.Building with Industry Leading PartnersWe are building tools alongside our partners so brands can plan, build, and execute their TikTok advertising campaigns in the workflow of their choice. TikTok for Business Model Context Protocol (MCP), built on the open Model Context Protocol, allows developers to build AI agents and tools directly on top of TikTok Ads ecosystem to plan, launch, and manage advertising workflows with fewer manual steps. Since launch, the TikTok for Business MCP has seen over 200% increase in advertisers using our MCP for campaign activation and management [5]. We are excited to announce that the TikTok for Business MCP is now available as a connector across several AI platforms and registries, including Claude, Kimi, Manus, Perplexity, Replit, Snowflake, Tencent WorkBuddy, and the IAB Tech Lab Agent Registry."The TikTok MCP is indispensable to our AI-powered campaign workflows including how we build campaigns, upload creative, and analyze performance. TikTok is a leader in helping brands leverage AI to grow," states George Velonias, Head of Growth Marketing, Wayfair CanadaExpanding AI Automated CapabilitiesWe're making it easier to run TikTok Search Ads Campaigns by bringing advanced automation to the search ads buying process with the power of Smart+. Search Ads Campaign, powered by Smart+ gives advertisers the flexibility to automate their search ads across keywords and creative, helping to deliver the right ad to the right person to offer the best performance. With extensive keyword targeting, bidding capabilities, and search budget management, advertisers can capture diverse users' intent across vast search queries and meet them where they are.We're also introducing Smart+ Creative Selection, a new Smart+ feature that brings together every creative source – from advertisers' own assets to Symphony's AI-generated creatives and even creator content – into one approval workflow, so advertisers can easily approve and activate creative to fuel their performance campaign. The solution surfaces the recommended groups of creatives tailored for the business and campaign objective and gives advertisers full control of what goes live.We’re expanding on GMV Max, our TikTok Shop automated ad solution that helps sellers grow their TikTok Shop gross merchandise value by automating campaign creation and automatically pushing spend behind content that is performing well. It will further improve advertiser profitability by factoring in key business costs – like affiliate commissions, coupons, and referral fees – so advertisers can optimize for a true return on investment.Innovation ForwardTikTok is the place to connect with audiences through storytelling, and we have the right AI tools to help you do it. With agentic commerce solutions, TikTok Ad Network, Smart+, GMV Max, and the ability to build with the agents already part of your workflow, TikTok is offering marketers the tools to identify the right audiences, translate interest into action, and drive measurable business outcomes.We'll see you at Advertising Week!Sources:PF Global, TikTok’s Economic Impact in the United States.PF Global, TikTok’s Economic Impact in the United States.Kantar Media Reactions 2026Kantar Media Reactions 2026TikTok Internal Data, July-September 2026...

TikTok joined governments, international organizations, policymakers, and business leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level week to advance a shared priority: building a more trusted and people-centered digital world.At TikTok, our mission is simple: to inspire creativity and bring joy. We are a global discovery platform for more than a billion people who come to TikTok to learn and express themselves, explore a new city, or find their next career. For millions of creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, TikTok has also become a meaningful economic engine for the communities where they live and work. Through UNGA, we aim to strengthen collaboration with global leaders and policymakers to help ensure that digital innovation continues to foster economic opportunity, closes digital divides, and aligns with global standards for sustainable economic growth.All of this depends on trust with our UN partners and the 150 markets in which TikTok operates. It also depends on ensuring that powerful technologies like AI are developed and deployed responsibly—so they expand access, strengthen creativity, and keep people in control.From Digital Discovery to Meaningful Economic OutcomesThe For You feed is where TikTok recommends new content based on people's interests, helping them find creators, ideas, products, and communities they seek out, may never have searched for or found on their own. Through the For You feed on TikTok, AI helps us build a platform dedicated to curiosity and discovering new things rather than around social connections. This is especially powerful for small businesses on the platform to find new customers.In the United States alone, more than 8.5 million businesses are powered by TikTok. As announced in PF Global's TikTok U.S. 2026 Economic Impact Report released today, these businesses helped contribute $81 billion to the GDP, and support more than 400,000 jobs across America. Among these business owners is groundbreaking entrepreneur Shaina Rainford, who joined TikTok’s Ziad Ojakli, Head of Public Policy for the Americas, at the UN Headquarters to share how she transformed family hair remedies into one of America’s fastest-growing haircare brands. As the founder and CEO of Bask & Lather (@baskandlatherco), Shaina has used TikTok to share her story, build brand affinity, cultivate a highly engaged community, and drive meaningful business growth. Bask & Lather achieved 1,400% growth from 2024 to 2026, generated more than $20 million in TikTok Shop GMV from January through August 2026, and earned #1-ranking products on TikTok. Today, it stands as one of America’s fastest-growing privately owned companies.TikTok Head of Public Policy for the Americas Ziad Ojakli and TikTok Shop Seller and CEO of Bask & Lather Shaina Rainford speak at the Digital@UNGA panel at the United Nations Headquarters. September 21, 2026 Photo Credit: ITU/M. Jacobson-GonzalezWe see the same economic dynamics in other markets around the world. In Brazil, for example, advertising and marketing on TikTok has added over $2.7 billion to the country's GDP and supported tens of thousands of new jobs. And in Europe, businesses advertising on TikTok generated €31 billion in economic value in 2025 and added 10 billion pounds to the UK economy.AI Tools for Small BusinessesTikTok's AI tools and resources can expand opportunities for businesses of all sizes, leveling the playing field and enabling them to create professional content, engage with clients, and be discovered regardless of budget, background or location. This drives economic growth for them and their local communities.Tools like TikTok Symphony, a suite of generative AI powered creative solutions designed to help advertisers create, optimize and scale content with the purpose of reducing friction in the creative process so brands can create higher quality content, move faster and unlock new opportunities for growth. For example, marketing agency ADDITIVE used Symphony Agent to bring Austrian hotel Fernblick Montafon own photos to life as engaging videos showcasing its mountainside setting. With no new shoot needed, they cut production time and increased click-through rates, making it easier for travelers on TikTok to discover them.TikTok's AI Policy Lead Tom Varghese speaks with Foreign Policy's Rishi Iyengar on how TikTok's AI tools empower small businesses. September 22, 2026 Photo Credit: Jonathan HeislerDriving Trust Through Responsible AI InnovationTrust is critical to enabling the use of new technologies, it's what allows creators to share openly, small businesses to invest confidently, and communities to connect across regions and different parts of the world, safely.Our Responsible AI principles govern how we use AI at TikTok, by embedding transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy and safety into our systems by design. These principles apply across AI-powered experiences on our platform—from building content moderation directly into our generative AI features, to giving people tools to spot, shape and understand their experience with AI on TikTok. In conversation with Foreign Policy Magazine, TikTok's AI Policy Lead Tom Varghese laid out our approach at UNGA:Spot: For years, we've championed investments in labeling, watermarking and shared technical standards to help people distinguish when something is generated or significantly edited by AI. And we've used these technologies to label over three billion videos as AI generated since we started this work.Understand: We've also expanded our AI literacy work. Last year, we established an AI Literacy Fund where we partnered with 20 AI expert organizations worldwide, from Common Sense Media to the News Literacy Project, to create educational content to help teach people how to use AI responsibly.Shape: We give people control over their experiences with AI by building tools that shape how and when they interact with this technology. For example, we provide numerous tools to help people personalize their For You feed recommendations, including a new feature that lets people choose how much AI-generated content they want to see.Our Continued Commitment to a Trusted Digital WorldThe creator and platform economies are fundamentally changing the way that people and small businesses can interact with and reach audiences, and access goods and services around the world. We see TikTok's role as an enabler of these connections.As technologies like AI continue to redefine the digital landscape, public-private collaboration becomes even more essential. Grounding our platform in trust, safety, and responsible innovation ensures that technological progress benefits everyone, everywhere. We remain committed to working alongside the United Nations, governments, and global leaders to build a transparent, trusted, and human-centered digital future....

Below is today's news made by TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.At a glance...$81 billion in U.S. GDP and 410,000 American jobs were supported by TikTok in 2025.TikTok discovery drove real-world spending: 27 million Americans visited an independent shop, cafe or restaurant for the first time after seeing it on the platform, generating an estimated $4.7 billion in local spending.American businesses are using TikTok to reach and grow their customer base: 93% report increased sales after promoting products or services on TikTok, while 84% say it helps them reach customers they otherwise could not.TikTok is helping turn creativity and learning into economic opportunity: 1.8 million American entrepreneurs sold products or services through the platform in 2025, while educational and skills-based content supported an estimated 3.6 billion hours of informal learning in the u.S.Today, PF Global released its 2026 TikTok U.S. Economic Impact Report, examining the role TikTok plays across the U.S. economy. The independent research estimates that economic activity supported by TikTok in 2025 helped generate $81 billion in U.S. GDP and supported 410,000 jobs across the United States.The findings illustrate something our community sees every day: TikTok has a tangible impact on businesses, creators and communities across the country. From the For You feed to Search, TikTok helps people uncover creators, businesses, products and experiences they may not otherwise discover. And features like Local Feed and TikTok GO help turn that discovery into action, making it easier to go from watching to visiting, booking or buying."More than 200 million Americans turn to TikTok to discover something new, from a neighborhood restaurant or small business to a new skill, destination or idea. On a daily basis, TikTok powers real economic impact across the United States, helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, reach new customers, and create jobs across the country."— Adam Presser, CEO, TikTok USDS Joint VentureAs a majority-American company, TikTok USDS Joint Venture operates and secures the platform domestically, providing the secure foundation and innovative product features that allow U.S. creators and businesses to thrive while remaining connected to a global community.Turning discovery into customersFor American businesses, discovery can mean a new customer walking through the door. PF Global estimates that 27 million Americans visited an independent shop, cafe or restaurant for the first time after seeing it on TikTok, while 47 million American adults found a local business after watching a TikTok video over the past year. These visits generated $4.7 billion in local spending in 2025."Our research shows that for many Americans, TikTok has become their digital front door to real world experiences. Millions are using TikTok to discover, go out and try new things, and American businesses are capitalizing on this with the opportunity to find new customers and connect on the platform."— Neil Ross, Partner for Tech, Media and Telecoms, PF GlobalThat initial discovery can lead to repeat business. In fact, 50 million Americans who visited a business after learning about it through a trending TikTok video, said they came back.Businesses themselves report seeing that impact, with 93% saying their sales increased after promoting their products or services on TikTok, 84% saying it allows them to reach customers they otherwise could not, and 83% describing TikTok as an important tool for attracting customers and supporting business growth.The impact extends beyond an individual sale. 80% of businesses using TikTok say the platform has helped them scale their operations, while 76% say TikTok is critical to their continued existence.From the For You feed to the local economyDiscovery on TikTok often starts with a search and ends at a restaurant, a neighborhood shop or even a tourist destination. PF Global estimates that exploration on TikTok drove $14 billion in additional U.S. spending across tourism, retail, hospitality and other services in 2025.Beyond local storefronts, that impact is driving physical travel across the country. PF Global estimates that discovery on the platform led to 19 million additional visits to U.S. towns, cities and tourist attractions in 2025. Among hospitality, travel and tourism businesses using TikTok, 83% reported increased sales after promoting their products or services on the platform.In Las Vegas, Jen Gay (@vegasstarfish) shows what the connection between TikTok and real-world exploration can look like. After more than 15 years in the area, Jen now shares her expertise online, helping tourists and locals alike discover food, entertainment, resorts and attractions across Las Vegas. @vegasstarfish TikTok is the most powerful platform in the world for connecting locals & visitors with great experiences, small businesses and hidden gems they wouldn’t otherwise know about. I use it to plan all of my vacations & family activities, & through my work as a content creator have provided trip inspiration to millions planning their own getaways. Find out more at TikTokEconomicImpact.com. #vegas #lasvegas #vegasstarfish #tiktokpartner #tiktokeconomicimpact ♬ Epic Inspiring - Kidmada Restaurants are seeing that same connection, too. In the restaurant and dining industry, 85% of businesses using TikTok say they sold out of a product after promoting it on the platform, and 83% say TikTok helped them develop a new item or improve an existing one.For creators like Vanessa Barreat (@lavecindadlv) and Rashad Jones (@rashadjonesbbq), that impact is real. Vanessa grew La Vecindad from a small food stand into a thriving restaurant that now employs more than 60 families, while Rashad, a BBQ pitmaster, has built a steady audience online around his award-winning cuisine. @lavecindadlv More than half of Hispanic Americans on TikTok say they’ve discovered a local business on the platform, and we’ve seen that impact firsthand at La Vecindad. TikTok has helped us reach new customers, create local jobs, and build a community that continues to grow with us. Visit TikTokEconomicImpact.com to learn more, and support the family-run businesses in your own community. #TikTokPartner #TikTokEconomicImpact #tiktokimpact #SmallBusiness #LasVegas @TikTok For Small Business @tiktok creators @TikTok for Good @Vanessa Barreat @La Vecindad® Cantina ♬ original sound - LA VECINDAD®️ @rashadjonesbbq There was a time when business was slow, and posting on @TikTok helped us push through. ❤️ Today, I’d say about 3 out of 4 customers who walk through the doors at Big Lee’s tell us they’ve seen us on TikTok. There have been days when our line was literally out the door because millions of people were watching our videos. TikTok has quite literally changed my life and changed what’s possible for our business. And that’s why I love seeing other small businesses get discovered through the platform too. If you find a business you like on TikTok, don’t just watch the video. Go check them out. Seriously. Your support can make a real difference. 💯 What’s a business you discovered on TikTok that you ended up visiting in person? 👇 #TikTokPartner #TikTokEconomicImpact #BigLeesBBQ #BBQ #SmallBusiness ♬ original sound - Rashad Jones BBQ Giving American entrepreneurs and creators the space to growTikTok has also become an important tool for a new generation of American entrepreneurs and creators, helping people turn an idea, skill or audience into a business and build careers in new ways. PF Global estimates that TikTok has helped 1.8 million American entrepreneurs sell products or services through the platform in 2025. For younger entrepreneurs, that impact is especially strong: 86% of businesses majority-owned by people under 30 that use TikTok, say the platform is critical to their business's existence.TikTok also gives emerging entrepreneurs room to turn a hobby into business: Jessica Simon (@mississippi.candle.co), transformed her talent for creative hobby into Mississippi Candle Company, a full-time business. @mississippi.candle.co Did you know? 96% of businesses on TikTok Shop say they have sold out of a product because of the platform? As a small business owner, I’ve seen firsthand just how powerful TikTok can be for businesses like mine. Mississippi Candle Company started with just my husband and me, making products in our kitchen. Today, we’ve grown to a team of 26 employees, and we’re going from making products in our kitchen to building out a 20,000 square foot warehouse. TikTok hasn’t just helped us reach customers we never could have reached before that growth has allowed us to create real jobs and make a bigger impact in our community. We’ve been able to support local fire departments, help families and people in need, and even step in to help cover daycare expenses for people in our community. To me, that’s what supporting a small business really means. When you support a family run business, that support reaches so much further than the business itself. Check out our site, and don’t forget to use TikTok to discover and support family run businesses in your own community. You never know just how far your support can go. #TikTokPartner #TikTokEconomicImpact ♬ original sound - Mississippi Candle Company In Wyoming, fourth-generation rancher, David Fales (@wyomingbeef) and his family use TikTok to tell the story behind Wyoming Authentic Beef Snacks, a family-owned company. @wyomingbeef Helping my dad achieve his dream ❤️ TikTok has helped us reach new customers across the country and share our Wyoming beef with people we never would have reached otherwise. Thank you for your support! #dad #wyoming #TikTokPartner #TikTokEconomicImpact ♬ Little Sparrow - Paul Alan Morris And, Shaina Rainford (@baskandlatherco) founder of hair care company Bask & Lather Co., has grown her business on TikTok since joining in 2023, building an audience of more than 727,000 followers.Turning learning into opportunityFor millions of creators on TikTok like these, that journey began with a question. How do I do this? Can I build a career doing that? What would it take to start my own business?According to PF Global, educational and skills-based content on TikTok supported 3.6 billion hours of informal learning in the United States in 2025—the total study time associated with 670,000 four-year bachelor’s degree programs. An estimated 45 million American adults said TikTok makes them better at understanding their career options. And 60% of regular posters on TikTok expressed an interest in starting a business of their own.A way to keep exploringThe 2026 Economic Impact Report's findings demonstrate how an online moment of curiosity can ripple through the real world—from finding a local bakery around the corner to connecting with a customer across the country, learning a new skill, launching a business or building a creative career.For American businesses and creators, that means discovery doesn't have to end when the video does. It can become a visit, a customer, a sale, a new skill, a business—or an entirely new opportunity.Read PF Global's full U.S. Economic Impact Report here....